Thursday, August 12, 2010

Not that I’m checking out your stats...

I realized yesterday during a horrible afternoon bout with cramps that it was that fun time of the month again but at least it explained my cravings, hunger, and general irritability. Instead of curling up in a fetal position on the sofa I figured a walk with the husband and dogs would make me feel better. It was 105 heat index AND garbage day but there were parts of it that were enjoyable. Like running the length of the park without stopping! I know it’s a hell of a long way from a half marathon but It’s a big start.

I got up at 5:30 this morning still in a relatively foul mood despite the fact that I had a dream I was making out with Cristiano Ronaldo (superstar soccer player for those who don’t know) in a convenience store. At the gym by 6:15 I did a half an hour of C25K intervals. About halfway through, “the incredible stinking woman”, as I’ve now named her, showed up and got on a treadmill 4 down from me. I smelled her before I saw her. Even from that distance. I had to chuckle as a guy got off the one next to her and moved but the whole thing just added to the foulness of my mood.

All along I had been glancing over at the guy next to me who had been running the entire time - at 7.5 miles an hour - burning more than 500 calories. I try not to look at what anyone else is doing because I’m only in competition with myself but that was impressive!! Just as we both slowed down to a walk at the end of the first 30 minutes he gave me a thumbs up so I took out one of my earbuds and he said “interval training is the best thing you can do.” I had a HUGE smile on my face as we both started up again for another 30 minutes. Of course he ran ANOTHER 30 minutes at 7.5 miles an hour and burned another 500+ calories but I did walking incline intervals with an extra spring in my step. Thanks dude. You probably have no idea how much you encouraged me today :)

13 comments:

  1. Great lesson: an encouraging word to someone in the gym or on the track can provide a much-needed boost. Thanks for the reminder...

    And keep kicking ass, Tina.

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  2. Aww! Look at my little Tina, making gym friends and all! :) You're doing amazing!

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  3. That is so cool - love that you are becoming one of the gym people!

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  4. You're doing great, keep up the good work. While at the gym, the hardest thing for me is the treadmill. I can do the elliptical machine all day long, but the treadmill is a beast.. One day I will get there and will be able to do 30 minutes straight like.. Great Job!!!! Keep it up!!!

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  5. So you've graduated to gym rat...CONGRATS!!! That's one of the really cool things about the gym...the comraderie between people that know they're doing what's right for their bodies...it promotes good feelings and good compliments....I'm glad you're enjoying it...you deserve it! :)

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  6. One time at the gym, an older man, probably at least in his mid-60s, got on the treadmill next to me to run. When I peeked at his stats, he was going 8.0 with a 2.0 incline, and at that point when I looked he'd been running for half an hour already! I want to be him when I'm 65!

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  7. Way to go, Tina!!! That's awesome...well, all of it except for Stinky...:)

    I, too, "heart" interval training...can build some serious endurance in just a little bit of time...

    Keep on keeping on!!!

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  9. Positive reinforcements for coolio, in-shape people is always a good thing! Yea for you:)

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  10. LOve your blog! Keep up the great work!! Getting comfortable with the gym can be such a big feat! Good work!!

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  11. Interval training is my favourite!
    Well done :)

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  12. I love reading about your encounters with the "incredible stinking woman". One of these days, someone's gonna say something. Hope she doesn't go to work after working out! Vee at http://veegettinghealthy.blogspot.com

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